SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Sept. 14, 2009) - O.B. Wilborn of Stevenson, Ala., won the Bass Fishing League final Bama Division bass fishing tournament of the season on Lake Guntersville Sunday with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 46 pounds, 4 ounces. The victory earned Wilborn $5,817. Anglers were competing to qualify for the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 22-24, where they could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"It's always good to win," said Wilborn. "I felt like I was on pretty good fish, but you never know if your fish are going to last over the course of a tournament.
"I caught a couple of good ones in practice and didn't wear my spot out," Wilborn added.
Wilborn said he targeted fish on ledges downriver from Goose Pond using a large plastic worm in 14 to 20 feet of water.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Robert Boyd of Russellville, Ala. (10 bass, 42-12, $2,909); Christopher Lane of Guntersville, Ala. (10 bass, 35-13, $1,939); James Johnson of Hartselle, Ala. (10 bass, 35-1, $1,357) and Terry Goggans of Fort Payne, Ala. (10 bass, 33-2, $1,163).
Patrick Hailstones of Cincinnati, Ohio, took home the Boater Division Folgers Big Bass award, earning $772 for a 7-pound, 10-ounce bass he caught.
Jamie Bladow of Houston, Ala., earned $2,852 as the co-angler winner Sunday thanks to 10 bass weighing 35 pounds, 10 ounces that he caught targeting ledges with a large plastic worm.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Lyndsey Atchley of Scottsboro, Ala. (nine bass, 24-13, $1,426); Jackie Quillen of Florence, Ala. (eight bass, 23-10, $950); Michael Emberton of Tompkinsville, Ky. (eight bass, 23-5, $666); and Chris Kanute of Warrior, Ala. (seven bass, 22-14, $570).
Dustin New of Vinemont, Ala., earned $379 as the co-angler Folgers Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass.